Transmitting mechanism



INVENTOR. d Balk *y BY 7%@ ATTORNEY.

D. BALK TRANSMITT'ING MECHANISM Filed Ap'ril 16, 1941 June 20, 1944.

Patented June 20, 1944 UNITED "STATES PATENT oFFici:"v

Tltaisislvi1TzlllliCHANTSM l I I DavidBalk, New York, Manufacturing Co.,

N. Y., assigner to Superba In'c., New York, N. Y., a,

corporationoi' New York Application aprilie, 194i, serial No. 38am `3' Claims.

My invention pertains to transferring or trans-A mitting mechanism; and particularly 'toap'paratus for automatically movinga length 'ofubi'as cloth, a strip of woven or fibrous material, or in factweb material of any kind, in any form,.,for further vvprocessing or treatment;'or to Wind saine into a roll for convenient commercial handling or use, in 'the various phases or states of any partially or completely manufactured vweb material now produced.

An object .of the invention is to maintain a uniformrate of movement of the web, and Within a predetermined range to regulate the tension thereon; with the result that strain, excessive stretching due to customary. pulling,` fand other undesirable effects usually encountered in the manufacture of bias and othercloth, which destroy textile or material finishes so essential tc the proper condition and appearance of theweb, areprevented. The material is thus transmitted continuously,` smoothlyand safely Within the range of control selected. i, I

Another ojectis to provide I means yfor 'qt'aining a Afinished roll ofloias web, so exactlywound that the continuous ply or .convolutions of such a ,web will eliminate v the need 'frtrinlmlng the if?? ends of thel roll. A maximum yardage istliusjsecured without the waste and @financial `lcss frequently incurred `from excessivevti'filnlninis.V

A further object iste provide f o'lj Winding into a roll apparatusthat is"ad`ap ted tofactu'ate a if selvage web, a tubular sewn web; laltulol'llar knit-if ted web, or any other vkind of' web material in' any formi, so nicelytliat the edges of the "coiled layers fallinto position exactly on top of one' ahother; calling for little orfnotrimining ofthe web' ends of the roll, Aand making an Yexcepti'o na'lly' neat roll, with all, the turns perfectly wound uponit.

Still another object is to provide automatic means for the rolling or winding withoutpulling of bias-cut' vweb material,` als itr runs `from any ex.' panding or contracting or tubular biasenti-,ing machine with xed mandrel,' regardless of the angle or nposition occupied by such'matsliine.`

Anadditionalobject ofthe apparatus isitoiiify vide complete synchronization between'fed rolls andlall er part of the" remainingcomponent parts of the mechanism that may be in use at any-time for any desired function, to suit anyty'pe of machine (weaving, knitting, sewing, pressing, iinishlng, etc.) servedliy the apparatus;

A still further object is lowcoost operation ly making possiblethe employment of unskilledat-- tendants. Due to' the. inherent qualitesibi the.'

apparatus,` perfecty andjhighly efficient operation ofi themechanismresults. f One incre object ofthe invention` i's to provide means for permitting sewing machines tobe synchronized, `with feed ,rolls .in my mechanism; for turni-ng .outsewn webtubesto runas longandasf quickly as a skilled seamstress can stit'chtg'the' mechanism beingfable to roll ayirtually unliinf ited yardage. This is a highly desired feature rer superior and inexpensive operation; Yet vanother object is to provide means Whereby the usualtype of bias-cutting machines (including a suitable mandrel) can be suppliedwith rolls of tubular-sewn cloth orvirtually unlimited yardage, to permit such tubular bias-.cuttingmachines to run much 'longer than li'asi heretofore been attainable. It is also an object of this invention to-.provide means to interrupt .the .motion ofthe web whenever the `limit of the range aforesaid isr reached, and at the same ,timeto .cause partsof themechanisin to readjustthemselves, again actuate the webinto motioniandrenew the controlling action.` Then, too', it 'is an object' vof theinventionto provide connections influeneedby thereceiving roll, when such a member is employellwto Acut'ofl the power andstop theoperation of the lr'le'clflr-` anism automatically as soongasjthe roll has the setfor predeterminedfull yardage upon it;

` '1t iswlikevvise` an object to provide a ,Welyactu?` ating mechanism having means for stqpping the motion ofthereceivig roll Whenever the tension on the web ljecomes too great; to'getherfwith niearlsdfojrl regulating' thetension on the web before stQppI1 g, .and so related `to the stepping ymeans that the latter is cali'sedto become `e'ie'ctiveby the regulating means at the proper moment. Hence the controlling offtheweb can'l'oe 'assured` to thellest advantage.

` VTo this end themechanism is designed to in` clude apfnumber of rollers, some of, Atv hichfare reed rolls and some idle rolls, wliilel others have the, tensionecontrolling"function and are' mounted so that they can lchange position 'in response to working conditions latter rolls move bodily as the tension on theweb teliisto' e', enabling the wehrte continue its-nieveand `they likewise movein a difrerent'in rect n as the tension on the web tends' to di: 59 inin n the irst case these rolls ina'y'ymlove rar' 'enough 'test-op the web receiving rollfror an interval; while sal receiving roll remains inotionifess the feed( ils 'continue to' 'tornano the tensio`- controlling rolls incve haci; to their' 'orig-4 55 inal positions until enough slaokjis takenjintlie vby a binding screwAc.

point to another; and during its transmission it can be given the necessary commercial handling or treatment over each successivel portion of its length till the desired finish or other re-V sult is finally obtained. A

The nature of the invention will be more fully understood in the following description, taken with the accompanying drawing; which presents disclosure is of course explanatory only, and the constructionsshown are given merely as yexam-- ples. Inpractice I reserve the right to make substitutions and alterations inthe type, shape, size and arrangement and manner of use of the various members, without departing from the principle of the invention or exceeding the broadand general aim and. range thereof, or the broad meanings of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. Y l

On said drawing: Y e Figure 1 shows the general' combination of parts which constitute my invention;

Figure 2 shows a vfront or end'view, including the framework that supports the different parts; Figure 3 illustrates a modification; `and Figure 3a a. detail thereof; i i o Figure 4 indicates a further modification and Figure 4aa detail of same. I The same numerals identify the same parts throughout.V o. l` In, the particular description of what the drawingactually illustrates, I employ the numeral I to indicate a web of cloth, bias, straight, or tubularthey are mounted so that they can move up and down and have their shafts or trunnions engaged in slotted guideways I5. Both of these shiftable rolls can operate in the same way, and for the sake of example I shall describe the action of the roll 6.

Adjacent the lower end of the range of adjustment or shifting of this roll 6, is a shaft I6 parallel to the axis of the roll 6 and carrying a sprocket or chain gear II. Some distance above `the shaft I6 is a similar shaft with a similar chaingear, and over the two gears I1 runs an endless chain I8. A counterweight I9 is attached toone side of this chain, and is constituted of sections so that the weight can be increased or lessened; and the other side of the chain carries bearings 20 in which the ends of the shaft or I trunnions of the roll 6 are carried. The weight several embodiments of the mechanism, vbut thesewn, or of any otherlkind, passing over or under` o.

a bearing which has a shank 4a, adjustably mounted ina bracket or socket-4b, and engagedf After leaving the rolls 2,-the web is` delivered to a pair of idle rolls5, running first overoneof these down to a'shiftable roller` 6 and then up and back to the other idle roll 5, thenby way of anotheridle roll I to a second shiftableroll 8. From this rollthe web travels to the usual tightening frame 9 and runs past idle rolls I0 and overa guderoll I2 `to the receiving or windingroll 3. Ther rolls II and I2 are mounted in a frame. I 3, pivoted on the axis l the mechanism operates and the tension of the of the roll I I; and the webrpasses over these last two rolls in such-a way that the -pull on the web tends to keep the roll I2 against the roll 3. The frame f|3 maybe countervveighted at `|l|. Sometimes the roll 3 can be omitted, and the web run through the mechanismin the same way, whenever, for any reason,'the web isnotfto be wound but merely transferred from one place to another, as between two-stages of treatment; or, if necessary to feed the web coming from roll 8 (omit-` ting partsr9, I8-, ||,|2, i3. and 3)to.any.other kind of winding or rolling machine or apparatus. The two rolls 6 and 8 are regulating rolls, and act in a manner to be -more.fully set. forth later kto control the tension of |9 should substantially balance the weight of the rollt; andthe latter rises and falls in response to` .`.ChangesA injtension on the web as it moves throughthe apparatus. The roll 8 may alsobe` supprlrtedV in bearings attached to chains likethe chainjl, but for the sake of simplicity, such a' chain is shown in connection with the roll 6 only. Theguide'ways I5 of the two rolls 6 and 8 are o f course substantially as long as the distance between the two shafts I6.

YPower for the entire mechanism is furnished by a motor 2 I, connected by a pulley 22 to a pulley 23 on one of the feed rolls 2 by a belt 24. From another pulley on the shaft of this motor a', second belt 25 'runs to a -pulley 26 of a clutch orlike device 2'I. Thisdevice has another pulley 2li,v connected by a belt V29 to a pulley 30 on the` shaftof the receiving roll 3. The clutch is'thrown intoand out of operating .position by a lever,3|,` which extends from the housing of the clutch deviceto a ,point under the roll 6.- When this roll drops t its lowermost point, the ,weight thereof depresses the lever 3| and the clutch is actuated to -`connect the roll 3 to be turned by the motor 2|; .but when the tensionon the web increases and ,causes the roll 6 to rise, the clutch lever 3| is pulled up.V and the clutch is automatically thrown out. The lever 3| may have a hook 3|a projecting upward, so that when the roll 6 rises, the rollwill 'at-length .lift the leverV 3| .and the clutch.bedisconnectedl 'Under some conditions the h'ook.3|a canbeomitted; land the clutch will the'nfbesodesigned that itv will disconnect the roll3- ffrom the rmotor as soon as rthe weightof the` roll6 is lifted from the rod 3|. Hence, as

web is not excessive, the roll 6 remains in lowermost. position and the roll 3 winds up the lweb as fast as the rolls 2 feed it through them. But

as the slack in the web is taken up, causing the roll 6 to lift, this roll willl eventually throw the clutch 21 out of. action Vand the roll 3 will temporarily stop. The rolls 2 continue to turn, and soon the. roll 6 will again be at the bottomof its range; andwillagain depress the lever 3| to connect the roll 3 'to the -power through the clutch. Then the rotation of the roll `3'is resumed. `rIhe tension on theweb is thus controlled and neverbecomes too great. Of courseY theroll. 8 .rises and falls the same as the roll 6. Other means than the clutchto control the winding roll ma materialmay be fed by. rolls .2 a little faster than the lvll 3 can receive it. The rolls 6 and 8 take rolls; :thus'holdi-ng it' smooth rand distended. As

therolli'3 fills; its"'peripheral speed -becomesfgreaterand 'fthe vtravel of-#thei-cloth :causes f the rolls? '6-and`f8 torlise. f lllVhenzi-oller -16 -riseshig'henoughit throws the 'clutch ZTIe'u't-'o'fA action Iand ldisconnects thev roll' '3 4Vand-@thes rolls 16 and Vllagain drop #until enough slack-lis .'arestoredfto Iprevent excessive tension onithe cloth ore-material onA the winding roll 3'. -Theuweb -is-guided ito-'i'ihe-'rolls 2lby 'the roll 4, set'atthe correct height thesocket 4b. The operative unit rno'to`r-f2I` is l:supplied with current from main -leads 32, containing aswitch33. Theeircuitrallsohas a switch 34, which is opened by the roll 3 when the latter attains a selected yardage or thickness, to stop the mechanism. If desired, a yardage appliance may be attached to one of the rolls to stop the apparatus automatically or to enable the attendant to shut down as soon as a predetermined yardage has been reached. The frame 9 may be rectangular, con-y taining rods 35,over and under which the web runs. This frame has bearing lugs 36, mounted on a stationary shaft 3I, which may be threaded to receive wing binding nuts 38 to keep the frame in any adjustedposition. f course the web may be run over orunder any given roll, depending on the conditions of a case. If it be passed over the roll 6, for example, springs or weights could vbe used to keepthe roll elevated and the tension on the web would depress instead of elevating it; as depicted in Figure 4, to be explained later.

The motor 2| and the feed rolls 2 are thus independent of the condition of the web as to tension,and the amount of cloth wound upon the roll 3, so long as the latter continues to rotate. Alterations in the tension of the web, the degree of slack between the rolls 2 and the web receiving roll 3, and the thickness of the layers on the latter before the switch 34 is opened, do not affect the feed rolls or the motor unit.

Figure 2 shows the arrangement of the above mentioned rolls in a suitable frame comprising uprights 39 and a base or bed 48. The uprights 39 provide bearings for the various rolls, including slotted guideways I for the rolls 6 and 8, which these rolls engage by means of projecting shafts or trunnions 4I. The lever 3l is presented as being upon the end of a shaft or rod 42, extending into the housing of the clutch 21 and the motor 2| is connected to the clutch shaft through a pulley 43 from which the belt 25 runs to the pulley 26.

Figure 3 shows the roll 6 disposed so that the web passes under it. It is mounted on a shaft 4Ia in an inverted yoke 44. This yoke moves towards and from a beam 45 above it; this beam having bearings 46 which engage vertical guide rodsv4l fixed to the yoke and extending up through the bearings 46. The motor has a pulley 43 joined by a belt 29 to a pulley 30 on the shaft of the roll 3, as before; but the clutch is omitted. One end of `the shaft 4Ia extends through a slot I5 in the frame, which bears at one side adjacent to the beam 45 a switch box 48. The switch in this box is connected to a link `49, which extends down and is pinned to a lever 50, pivoted at 5I ,on the side of the frame near the end of the shaft 4Ia. At one end of this lever is a Weight I9', and the shaft 4Ia is in line with the opposite end. The link is joined to the lever between the pivot 5I and the end to be engaged bythe shaft 4Ia. The main circuit of the motor is opened and closed by the switch :in the box x48. .,a'llhisiiarr'angement `agclts similarly :to the combination shown in Figure l to 4out oif` the' `currentand stop 'the motor 2l and the .mechanism iwhen the tension on ithe web is great enough to lift rthe roll .6; In lowermost position, `theend -of theshaft 4I u. presses down on :the .end of the Vlever. 50,. and .keeps the switch in the -box 48 closed. When the roll 6 rises, `the weight I9 actuates the' link^49in the` opposite direction andlopens the switch.` `The motorand the :roll 3 then rstop, arid-` ithe weight of .fthe ro'llf6 and yoke-Mythen pnessfdowniand produce a .slack inthe cloth, in thefsame way4 :as the :roll 6` in Iiglure-lz With .this mechanism, :the roll 3.is..a1ways usedv butithe feed rolls 1,2 may be left out. When the mechanism is employed with :a machine that does notsfeed the-web, `rtlien the feed rolls 2 are included to accomplish this. These are not shown in Figure 3, but when they are used, they will be mounted as in Figure 2. Figure 3a shows the lever 50 and link 49 in side View.

In Figure 4, the roll 6 has the cloth running over it. Here the yoke 44' has guide rods 41' which extend down into guide tubes or cylinders 46' on the base 40, and in these tubes or cylinders are springs 53, which tend to force the yoke upwards. The switch box 48 has a rod or link 49' pinned at 5I to a lever 50 on the -side of the frame, with a counterweight I9 as before. As illustrated in Figure 4a, the parts are so disposed that, when the roll 6 is in uppermost position, the end of the shaft 4Ia will lift the lever and weight I9 so as to pull the link 49'. This action will close the switch in the box 48. When the tension on the web rises, the roll 6 is depressed, and the shaft 4Ia. now releases the link 49. The weight I 9' then pushes the link 419' upward and the switch is opened till the tension eases and allows the roll 6 to rise again and close the switch. Otherwise the apparatus is used in the same Way as that of Figure 3.

The side uprights 39 have such shape, width and height as to provide bearings for all the rolls used in the apparatus. Figure 1, for the sake of simplicity, shows only one chain I8 for the roll 6, supporting the near end, and one guide I5 for each of the rolls 6 and 8, presented as engaging the far ends of the shafts of these rolls; but in practice the guides I5 will be at both ends of these rolls; and the roll 6 will have a chain at each end, as indicated in Figure 2. Likewise the roll 8 will be shiftably mounted on two chains whenever chains are employed with this roll.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a transmitting apparatus for web material, the combination of feed rolls, a tension roll to engage said material in its passage through said apparatus, an endless chain supporting said roll to enable the latter to move vertically between upper and lower positions according to the tension on the material, a winding roll to receive said material after it leaves said tension roll. a motor to actuate the Winding roll, means for connecting and disconnecting the motor and winding roll and a lever to control said means shaped to be engaged by the tension roll 1n one position to cause said means to connect the winding roll to the motor and in the other position to disengage said means.

2.1In a transmitting apparatus for web material, the combination 'of afeed roll; a winding roll to receive said material, a tension roll between the feed roll and the winding roll to engage 'said material vin its passage through the apparatus, an endless chain supporting the tension roll to 'enable thev latter to move vertically Y between `upper .and lower positions according 3. Transmitting mechanism comprising a roll for winding web materiaLa clutch device, means for connecting said device to said winding roll, feeding means, a power unitvto operate said means connected to the clutch device,;a,=lever to render the clutch device operative or inoperative, said lever having aprojection; thereon, a shiftable roll, an endless chainsupport to-*hold-the shiftable roll in upper orlower position to engage the projection or the lever according; to the tension on the material, and a rod flxed to the lever to connect the' latter-'to the clutch, the power unit and the lfeeding means vbeing independent of the clutch.- y

l v .DAVID BALK. 

